Plang

Part of speech: verb, noun

Definitions

1. To plunge downward or strike something forcefully with a heavy, resounding impact
2. Describing a sudden, forceful drop or blow that makes a loud, heavy sound on contact
3. To thrust oneself or an object down with great force, often producing a dull, booming noise

Etymology: "Plang" belongs to the dialect vocabulary of northern England and Scotland, where it describes a heavy fall or a violent blow. Its exact origin is uncertain. Words like this often imitate sound, and the hard "pl" and the nasal "ng" suggest the clang or thud of something heavy hitting the ground, much as "clang" and "plunk" do. Its sound also invites comparison with the Latin "plangere," meaning "to beat the breast" in grief, which gave English "plangent," a word for a loud, resonant sound. The two are not known to be related, so the resemblance is best understood as a matter of sound rather than shared descent.